''Princess Tarakanova'' (Italian: ''La principessa Tarakanova'') is a 1938 French-Italian

historical film A historical drama (also period drama, costume drama, and period piece) is a work set in a past time period, usually used in the context of film and television. Historical drama includes historical fiction and romances, adventure films, and swa ...

directed by Fyodor Otsep and

Mario Soldati Mario Soldati (17 November 1906 – 19 June 1999) was an cinema of Italy, Italian writer and film director. In 1954 he won the Strega Prize for ''Lettere da Capri.'' He directed several works adapted from novels, and worked with leading Ital ...

and starring Annie Vernay,

Pierre Richard-Willm Pierre Richard-Willm (3 November 1895 – 12 April 1983) was a French stage and film actor during the 1930s and 1940s."Pierre Richard-Willm" aCiné-Ressources Retrieved 1 November 2020. Biography Pierre Richard-Willm (originally Alexandre-Pi ...

and

Roger Karl Roger is a given name, usually masculine, and a surname. The given name is derived from the Old French personal names ' and '. These names are of Germanic origin, derived from the elements ', ''χrōþi'' ("fame", "renown", "honour") and ', ' ( ...

.Moliterno p.303 It portrays the life of the 18th century pretender to the Russian throne

Princess Tarakanova Princess Tarakanova (c. 1745 – ) was a pretender to the Russian throne. She styled herself, among other names, ''Knyazhna Yelizaveta Vladimirskaya'' (Princess of Vladimir), ''Fräulein Frank'', and ''Madame Trémouille''. Tarakanova ('' ...

. The story has been turned into films a number of times including a 1930 film, ''

Tarakanova Princess Tarakanova (c. 1745 – ) was a pretender to the Russian throne. She styled herself, among other names, ''Knyazhna Yelizaveta Vladimirskaya'' (Princess of Vladimir), ''Fräulein Frank'', and ''Madame Trémouille''. Tarakanova ('' ...

''. The film's sets were designed by Andrej Andrejew,

Guido Fiorini Guido Fiorini (1897–1966) was an Italian engineer, architect and art director.Poretti p.128 He was associated with the futurist movement. Selected filmography * ''Loyalty of Love'' (1934) * ''Just Married'' (1934) * ''Red Passport'' (1935) * '' ...

and Ettore Corsi. The film was released in the USA under the title ''Betrayal''.

Cast

* Annie Vernay as Élisabeth Tarakanova - la prétendante au trône de Russie *

as Il conte Alexis Orloff / Le comte Alexis Orloff - le favori de Catherine II *

as Il principe Radziwill / Le prince Radziwill * Suzy Prim as L'imperatrice Caterina II / L'impératrice Catherine II *

Memo Benassi Domenico "Memo" Benassi (21 June 1886 – 24 February 1957) was an Italian film actor who appeared in more than forty films in a mixture of leading and supporting roles. He played the composer Beethoven in the 1942 film '' Rossini''.Mathew & Walt ...

as L'ambasciatore russo ''(In the Italian version)'' *

Georges Paulais Georges Paulais (16 September 1884 – 12 December 1967) was a French film actor. He appeared in more than 140 films between 1910 and 1956. He was born in Guimps, Charente, France and died in Chabanais, Charente, France. Selected filmograph ...

as L'ambassadeur russe ''(In the French version)'' *

Guglielmo Sinaz Guglielmo Sinaz (20 November 1885 – 5 February 1947) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in more than 60 films between 1935 and 1947. He was born and died in Rome, Italy. Selected filmography * ''I Love You Only'' (1935) * '' The Grea ...

as Il grande inquisitore ''(In the Italian version)'' *

René Bergeron René ('' born again'' or ''reborn'' in French) is a common first name in French-speaking, Spanish-speaking, and German-speaking countries. It derives from the Latin name Renatus. René is the masculine form of the name (Renée being the feminin ...

as Le grand inquisiteur ''(In the French version)'' *

Anna Magnani Anna Maria Magnani (; 7 March 1908 – 26 September 1973) was an Italian actress.Obituary ''Variety'', 3 October 1973, pg. 47 She was known for her explosive acting and earthy, realistic portrayals of characters. Born in Rome, she worked her ...

as Marietta, la cameriera ''(In the Italian version)'' *

Janine Merrey Janine Merrey was a French film actress.Goble p.124 She appeared in more than thirty films. Selected filmography * ''Love Songs'' (1930) * '' The Regiment's Champion'' (1932) * ''If You Wish It'' (1932) * '' A Father Without Knowing It'' (1932) * ...

as Mariette, la camériste ''(In the French version)'' *

Antonio Centa Antonio Centa (10 August 1907 – 19 April 1979) was an Italian film actor. Career Born in Maniago, Province of Pordenone, Centa was among the most active and popular actors between the mid-1930s and 1943 (when the Italian film industry almost ...

as Il capitano Sleptozow ''(In the Italian version)'' *

Jacques Berlioz Jacques Berlioz (9 December 1891, Paris – 21 December 1975) was a French zoologist and ornithologist, specializing in hummingbirds. He was a grand-nephew of composer Hector Berlioz (1803–1869). Berlioz was born in Paris, where the family home ...

as Le capitaine Sleptozoff ''(In the French version)'' *

Abel Jacquin Abel Jacquin (1893–1968) was a French actor who appeared in more than thirty films between 1930 and 1956. Jacquin co-directed the 1933 comedy film '' Les deux 'Monsieur' de Madame''. He was also noted for his narration of the 1933 documentary '' ...

as Il capitano Nikolsky / Le capitaine Nikolsky. *

Enrico Glori Enrico is both an Italian masculine given name and a surname, Enrico means homeowner, or king, derived from ''Heinrich'' of Germanic origin. It is also a given name in Ladino. Equivalents in other languages are Henry (English), Henri ( French), ...

as Il mercante / Le marchand *

Alberto Sordi Alberto Sordi (15 June 1920 – 24 February 2003) was an Italian actor, voice actor, singer, comedian, director and screenwriter. Early life Born in Rome to a schoolteacher and a musician and the last of five children, Sordi was named in hon ...

as Ciaruskin *

Amedeo Trilli Amedeo Trilli (9 July 1906 – 30 November 1971) was an Italian film and television actor. Life and career Born in Ronciglione, Viterbo, at very young age Trilli worked as a circus artist, then in 1922 he studied performance at the Accademia ...

as Ravic * Vasco Cataldo * Rolando Costantino * Enrico Gozzo * Wilma Grazia * Mario Mari * Mauprey * Guglielmo Morresi * Teodoro Pescara Pateras *

Gennaro Sabatano Januarius ( ; la, Ianuarius; Neapolitan and it, Gennaro), also known as , was Bishop of Benevento and is a martyr and saint of the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. While no contemporary sources on his life are preserved, later ...

Giovanni Stupin Giovanni may refer to: * Giovanni (name) Giovanni is a male Italian given name (from Latin ''Ioannes''). It is the Italian equivalent of John. Giovanni is frequently contracted to Gianni, Gian, or Gio, particularly in the name Gianbattista, a ...

* Germana Vivian * Cesare Zoppetti

References

Bibliography

* Moliterno, Gino. ''The A to Z of Italian Cinema''. Scarecrow Press, 2009.

External links

* 1938 films Italian historical drama films French historical drama films 1930s historical drama films 1930s Italian-language films Films directed by Fedor Ozep Films directed by Mario Soldati Films set in Russia Films set in the 18th century French multilingual films Italian multilingual films Italian black-and-white films Films about Catherine the Great Films produced by Seymour Nebenzal 1938 multilingual films 1938 drama films Films scored by Renzo Rossellini 1930s Italian films 1930s French films {{1930s-Italy-film-stub

Cast

See also

References

Bibliography

External links